娱乐英语新闻:"How to Train Your Dragon" among top contenders for Annie Awards

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- DreamWorks Animation's blockbuster "How to Train Your Dragons" was nominated as the top contender for the best animated feature honors at the 38th Annie Awards, the animation industry's highest honor, the organizer said on Monday.

In addition to the best animated feature, "How to Train Your Dragons" has got 14 other nods atop a list which also includes other animated hits such as "Despicable Me," "Tangled," "The Illusionist" and "Toy Story 3."

"This has been an uNPRecedented year for animation, as the high quality of work represented by our nominees will attest," Association Internationale du Film d'Animation (ASIFA)-Hollywood President Antran Manoogian said.

DreamWorks' other animations including "Megamind" and "Shrek Forever After" also walked away with six and five nods respectively.

Due to disagreement with the organizer on how nominated films are selected and who are qualified to cast their votes, famed animation production companies like Pixar and Disney have chosen not to participate in the process.

"Toy Story 3," from Pixar which is widely regarded as top Academy Award best animated feature contender, was awarded with three nods while "Tangled," the latest Disney production which has been shown at North American theaters right now, got two.

"Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special," a television special produced by the DreamWorks Animation and premiered on NBC on Nov. 24, was nominated for best TV production along with "Futurama," "Scared Shrekless," "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "The Simpsons."

"SpongeBob SquarePants," "Fanboy & Chum Chum," "Adventure Time," "Regular Show" and "Cloudbread" were nominated as major contenders vying for the honor of the best animated television production for children.

Nominated for best animated short subject are: "Coyote Falls," "Day & Night," "Enrique Wrecks the World," "The Cow Who Wanted To Be A Hamburger" and "The Renter."

Honoring excellence in the field of animation, Annie Awards will be presented in 26 categories including best animated feature, home entertainment, television production, television commercial, short subject, video game, as well as individual achievements.

The award ceremony will be held Feb. 5 at the UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.